Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-20

OF some light wool, and capable OF holding
six people and baggage. For these two canoes
we hnil 70 pay nearly all our remaining cloth,
and also many other articles.
On the day following our purchase Of the
two canoes We effected start In tho first
canoe were Good, Sir Henry and three OF olu
Wallwah followers; In tho second myself,
Umslopogaas and the other two Wakwnfls
AS our course lay up the stream, we had to
keep four paddles at work IN each canoe,
which meant that the whole lot Of US, except
Good, had to row away like galley slaves;
and very exhAusting work II was. say ex-
cept, for OF course tho moment that Good got
into boat his foot was on his native heath
and he took command Of the party. And
certainly he worked us. On shore Good Is a
gentle, mild hammered man, and given TO jo-
costly; but, as we found TO our cost, Good In
boat was perfect demon. To begin with,
be knew all about 1t, and we didn't On all
nautical subjects, from the torpedo fittings of
a man OF war down to tho best way OF
handling the paddle of an African canoe, be
was perfect mine OF info matioa, which, TO
say the least Of 1t, we were not Also bis
ideas Of discipline were of the sterncst, and,
In short, he came tho royal naval officer over
US pretty considerably and paid us out amply
for all the chaf we were won't 10 treat him
to on land; but, on the other hand, am,
bound to say that he managed the boats adj
mirably.
Three days after orr start an ominous incl
dent occurred. We were just drawing in to
the bank TO make our camp, as usual, for the
night, when we caught sight OF a figure
standing on a little knoll not forty yards
away, and intently watching our approach.
Ono glance was sufllcient--although l was
personally unacquainted with the tribe--to
tell me that he was Nasal Elmoran, or
young warrior. Indeed, had | had any
doubts, they would have been quickly dis
PEELED by the terrified ejaculation Of "Masail"
that burst simultaneously from the lips Of
our Wakwah followers, who are, as think
have said, themselves bastard Nasal.
And what figure he presented as be stood
there in his savage war gearl Accustomed
as have been TO savages all my lifo, donot
think that have ever before seen anything
quite so ferocious or awe inspiring To begin
with, tho man was enormously tall, quite as
tall as Umslopogaas, I should say, and beau
tifully, though somewhat slightly, shaped,
but with the face Of devil. In his right
hand he held spear about five and a half
feet long, the blade being two and half feet
in length by nearly three inches in width,
and having an iron spike at the end of the
handle that measured more than foot. On
his left arm was large and well made clip
ticnl shield Of buffalo hide on which were
painted strange, heraldic looking devices
] On his shoulders was huge cape OK hawks
feathers, and rennd hi. neck "nnibere,
or strip of cotton, about seventeen feet long
by one and half broad, with stripe Of
color running down the middle Of It. The
tanned goat skin robe, which formed his
ordinary attire in times Of peace, was tied
lightly round his waist, SO as to serve the
purposes of belt, and through it were stuck,
ON the right and left sides respectively, his
short, pear shaped sine, or sword, which is
made of single piece of steel, and carried In
a wooden sheath, and an enormous knobker-
rie. But perhaps the most remarkable fea-
ture Of hi. attire consisted Of headdress of
ostrich feathers, which was fixed ON the chin,
and passed in front of the ears TO the fore
head, and, being shaped like an ellipse, COM
pletely framed the face, so that the diabolical
countenance appeared to project from q sort
of feather fire screen. Round the ankles he
wore black fringes of hair, and projecting
from the upper portion of the calves, to which
they were attached, were long spurs like
spikes, from which flowed down tufts of the
beautiful black aud waving hair OF the Co
lobus monkey. Such was tho elaborate ar
ray of the Nasal Elmoran who stood watch
ing the approach of our two canoes, but it is
ono which, to be appreciated, must be seem
only those who see it do not often live to de-
scribe it. OF course, could not make out
all these details of his full dress on the occa-
sion Of this my first introduction, being, in.
deed, amply taken up with the consideration
It the general effect, but | had plenty OF
subsequent opportunities OF becoming ac-
iuainted with the items that went to make
1t up.
While we were hesitating what to do, the
Nasal warrior drew himself up In O dignifed
fashion, shook his spear OF us, and turning,
vanished on the farther side of the slope.
"Hulloai" hallooed Sir Henry from the
other boat, sour friend the caravan leader
has been as good as his word, and set the
Nasal after us. Do you think it will be safe
to go ashorea"
] did not think it would be at all safe; but
on tho other hand, we had no means of cook
ing in the canoes, and nothing that we could
eat raw. so it was difficult to know what te
do. At last Umslopogaas simpl.ied matters
by volunteering TO so and reconnoiter, which
he did, creeping off into the bush like a snake
while we hung Off in the stream waiting for
him. In half an hour he returned and told
US that there was not q Nasal to be seen any
where about, but that he had discovered Q
spot where they bad recently been encamped
and that from various indications he judged
that they must have moved on an hour or 81
before, the man We saw having, no doubt
been left to report upon our movements.
Thereupon we landed, and having posted &
sentry, proceeded to cook and eat our even
ing meal This done, we took the situation
into our serious consideration. OF course, Il
was possible that the apparition of the Masa
warrior had nothing to do with US, that b,
was merely ono of a band bent upon som,
marauding and numbering expedition agains
another tribe. Our friend the consul hat
told us that such expeditions were about
But when we recalled the threat of th'
caravan leader, and reflected on the ominou
way in which the warrior had shaken hi
spear at US, this did not appear very prob
able On the contrary, what did seem prob
able was that the party was after us, ant
awaiting favorable opportunity TO attacl
us This being So there were two thing,